LUTON: In a high-level strategic meeting, the Eurasia Policy Council (EPC) UK convened with Lord Qurban Hussain (Lib Dam), a seasoned political figure and former member of the UK Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Groups(APPGs) on Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, to chart a robust strategy for enhanced engagement in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Caspian Sea region.
The discussion, attended by EPC founders, Raza Syed and Prof.Shabnam Delfani, marked a pivotal moment in the Council’s mission to foster dialogue, development, and strategic cooperation across this geopolitically vital corridor.
Lord Qurban, leveraging his decades of diplomatic and strategic expertise, emphasized the growing importance of Central Asia as an “emerging nexus of global interest.” He highlighted Uzbekistan’s sweeping domestic reforms and Azerbaijan’s critical role in transcontinental energy corridors as key drivers of the region’s rising prominence. “Energy routes, trade logistics, and the recalibration of Eurasian power structures all converge here,” he said, urging EPC to pursue sustained and nuanced engagement to capitalize on these opportunities.
To strengthen EPC’s role as a thought leader and bridge-builder, Lord Qurban proposed a multi-faceted approach. He recommended forging strategic partnerships with academic, governmental, and policy institutions in key regional hubs like Baku and Tashkent. He also advocated for active participation in economic and energy forums to shape regional policymaking and the establishment of an on-ground network of advisors, consultants, and diplomatic liaisons to ensure real-time access to developments. His vision prioritized long-term trust-building over short-term, project-based initiatives, aiming to create lasting impact.
The EPC is now drafting a proposal to formalize Lord Qurban’s ongoing advisory role, tapping into his extensive network to facilitate high-level introductions to officials and institutions in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. This move aligns with the Council’s ambition to deepen its influence in the Central Asia-Caucasus-Caspian axis, a region increasingly critical to global energy security, trade diversification, and multipolar diplomacy. EPC founders hailed the meeting as “a milestone in our mission to promote sustainable partnerships and policy innovation in the Eurasian heartland.”
Looking ahead, EPC plans to develop a detailed advisory framework incorporating Lord Qurban’s recommendations, with a follow-up strategy session scheduled within the next two to three weeks. Steps are already underway to initiate diplomatic introductions in Baku and Tashkent through his channels. As geopolitical interest in the region intensifies, EPC is positioning itself as a key player in fostering mutual understanding and actionable collaboration between Central Asia, the Caucasus, and international stakeholders, with Lord Qurban’s guidance set to steer its efforts toward meaningful impact.
